Commerce Revises Russia and Belarus Export Controls, Enhances Transparency of Future Enforcement Proceedings

Excerpt:  “Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) issued a final rule that revises, corrects, and clarifies certain provisions of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) pertaining to the sweeping export controls imposed on Russia and Belarus in response to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, to enhance the transparency of BIS’s efforts to vigorously enforce export controls on Russia and Belarus, this rule amends the EAR to make future charging letters in administrative export control enforcement cases publicly available prior to the final disposition of such cases. ‘The necessary speed and broad scope of export controls put in place in response to Russia’s brutal, unjustified assault on Ukraine requires BIS to be in regular communication with U.S. exporters and other stakeholders regarding compliance with the enhanced restrictions on trade with Russia,’ said Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez. ‘National security is a shared responsibility, and the clarifications made in today’s rule will help to ensure that the exporting community better understands and can more effectively comply with the new rules.'”